Monday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020
Issue No. 356
To Our Readers

Thanksgiving, normally a time of family gatherings and community of spirit,
is this year subject to fear and uncertainty due to the still raging Coronavirus.

With so many friends and relatives afflicted by COVID-19, we hope our readers will adhere to the few recommended cautions of frequent hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks outside of your family bubble.

Perhaps, when all is said and done, this year will have restored hope as nothing is more important than your life and love of family.

Be safe, guard your health and celebrate as best you can with those nearest and dearest to you and enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday.

Staff
Ultimate Sports Guide
Cal Bears 27
Oregon State Beavers 31
Cal quarterback Chase Garbers completed 28 of 42 passes for 315 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as the Bears dominated much of the game against Oregon State on Saturday afternoon, earning a 38:06 to 21:54 time advantage. But the Beavers converted a late blocked punt into a lead from which Cal could not recover, losing 31-27 in Corvallis, OR. Cal is now 0-2 in Pac-12 play and hosts the Stanford Cardinal in the 123rd Big Game on Friday, Nov. 27 at 1:30 p.m. on FOX. (Garbers is pictured above in the 2019 Red Box Bowl against Illinois University.) Photo and caption by Ron Sellers.
Cal's redshirt senior outside linebacker Cameron Goode (19) recorded a team-best seven tackles against Oregon State and made a key fumble recovery on a punt return. For the 2020 season, Goode was named second-team preseason All-Pac-12 by Jon Wilner of the Bay Area News Group. (Goode is pictured above in the 2019 Red Box Bowl against Illinois University.)
San Francisco 49ers Schedule
Derek Carr, quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders

by Kenny Karst

Quick: name two NFL quarterbacks that are brothers.
Chances are Eli and Peyton Manning came to mind first. But now that you've seen this 2013 image of Derek Carr quarterbacking the Fresno State Bulldogs, you're racking your brain to remember HIS brother's name. I'll make it easy on you: it's David. And he took snaps from under center for four NFL teams before Derek graduated from college. It was older brother David who paved the way forward for Derek's career in football. Born in Fresno and raised in Bakersfield, Derek and his family moved to the Houston, Texas suburb of Sugar Land in 2002 when David was drafted number one overall by the expansion Houston Texans. Several years later, it was there in Sugar Land where baby brother Derek began his football career quarterbacking the Clements High School Rangers. His stellar play on the gridiron during his junior year in 2007 attracted the eyes of several collegiate scouts from Fresno State, SMU, Utah, Boise State, USC and UCLA. Only the first three of those schools offered Carr a scholarship; so after committing to Fresno State in the off-season of 2008, Derek and his family moved back to Bakersfield for his senior year where he attended Bakersfield Christian High School and threw for over 4,000 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, all in just 13 games. After enrolling at Fresno State in 2009, Carr threw only 14 passes that year and then red-shirted in 2010. But life changed dramatically for Carr when he was named the starter for the Bulldogs in 2011. During the following three years, Carr threw for 12,843 yards in the air and 113 touchdowns for Fresno State, including a Football Bowl Subdivision-leading 5,083 yards and 50 touchdowns during his senior year in 2013. Carr was selected by the Oakland Raiders as the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and was assigned his requested jersey number 4 in honor of his favorite NFL player, Brett Favre.
The San Francisco Giants are proud to announce that Oracle Park has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STARTM accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the San Francisco Giants have implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention in its facility.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STARTM verifies that Oracle Park executes best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.

To achieve STARTM accreditation, staff and facility operations were required to demonstrate compliance with the GBAC program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment, emergency preparedness and
response measures.

As we review all aspects of the gameday experience, this GBAC STARTM accreditation is an important first step to assure our employees and fans that we have proven systems in place to maintain clean and
healthy environments.

In Memoriam
356 - Ed Jay
Ricky Ricardo, the owner of Ricky’s Sports Theatre and Grill in San Leandro, died recently at the age of 75. Also pictured, Tina Ricardo (left) and Debi Hamill.
Photo by Ed Jay
My Special Friend Ricky… 
I moved to San Leandro circa 1977 and the first place I discovered was Ricky’s, a much smaller and intimate facility then than now, but the love and family atmosphere never changed. Ricky’s dad John and brother Bob were there too, along with lots of people who would become and always feel they were the “best” friends forever. In those days it was satellite TV and hit-or-miss as to what we’d find to watch when we’d go there for something to eat and drink. With just one giant TV screen then, Ricky would play movies for which he had access, and so was born the future attraction for customers. I recall fondly one evening calling Ricky and asking what movie he was going to play so we could decide to come over or not. In his typical fashion, he said, “Oh, I don’t know. What do you want to see?” and went on to give me options. We made our decision and I saw at Ricky’s the full, uncut version of Gone with the Wind! I will never forget that memory. We saw lots of movies there in the 70s and early 80s. We also later met and felt special with sports teams and their coaches and players, too many to mention here. They were so much more accessible in those days. An updated memory is when Ricky and Tina included a drink on their bar menu just for me! What an honor and it’s still my personal favorite. You’ll have to go there when it reopens to discover for yourself.

Shelia Young
Mayor Emeritus, City of San Leandro

Editor: A GoFundMe account has been set up on behalf of Ricky's Sports Bar
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Dang... What things one can find out when trying to create a trivia question! What NFL player went on to become a Supreme Court Justice? To help you with the time frame, know he was appointed to the Supreme Court by JFK!
(See answer below...)
MLB's Pete Rose
Former Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose poses near his statue outside of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rose is still serving a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball

352 - Amaury


Double
Standard at Cooperstown?
By Amaury Pi-González

“T’was the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, all the new Hall of Fame names were read with a flair, but the name of Pete Rose still was not there” -APG.2020.

The list for the 2021 first time nominees for Cooperstown is out, including those that fell short in previous years. They are still on the ballot and some, like Roger Clements and Barry Bonds, will probably not be elected this year. They might have to wait a few more years. But, what about Pete?

This is the time of the year for that perennial question – “Why is Pete Rose not in the Hall of Fame as a player?”

No player alive or still playing is remotely close to Pete Rose's record of 4,256 hits. The closest one, who still active, is Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels, with 3,236 hits. Also active: Miguel Cabrera 2,866, Robinson Canó 2,624 (who also was suspended for the 2021 season for PEDs), Nick Markakis 2,388 and Yadier Molina with 2,001. All of these active players are veterans towards the end of their careers; they have really no chance of getting remotely close to Pete Rose.
Headfirst slide pioneer Pete Rose says it’s not always a good idea

Gambling is the cardinal sin of baseball and that is why Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame. In 1989 Major League Baseball punished Pete Rose, manager of the Cincinnati Reds, for betting on baseball.

Rose accepted a settlement which includes a lifetime ban from the game. But every year when the names of the new class of Hall of Fame players who are nominated comes out, everybody debates if he should be given the chance of induction into the Hall of Fame.

Rose recently admitted to Jim Gray that he still bets on baseball. This confession is part of Jim Gray’s Talking to Goats FOX News special and book. As a civilian he can bet on baseball. It is legal – just visit any casino in the United States and you probably can place a bet or on the internet, as well.

We are a betting nation. DraftKings has a very popular Daily Fantasy Sports for Cash in baseball, the Super Bowl is approaching, as is the March Madness basketball tournament. The Super Bowl has the highest number of bets. During the summer, baseball (usually 162-game schedule) allows more opportunities to bet each day.
Headfirst slide pioneer Pete Rose might want to rethink this decision

We are also a forgiving nation. With the advances of science, i.e. DNA, people that were wrongly convicted of murder and have been serving a life sentence for decades, have been released after DNA showed that they were wrongly convicted.

In many countries around the world, if you are convicted of murder you are executed very soon after your sentence. O.J Simpson is a free man, after his controversial ‘not guilty’ verdict, but we all know he got away with murder. He had to hire the best attorneys in the world to save his life, so there went most of what money OJ had.

Question for everybody: What is worst, Pete Rose betting on baseball or the Houston Astros cheating and winning the 2017 World Series?

Pete Rose is not going to manage or play again. To me it looks ridiculous he is not in the Hall of Fame where he belongs. If we are going to be consistent with the world we are living today – this is not 1919 and the Black Sox scandal -- I hope we can see Pete Rose soon in Cooperstown, not after he is dead. That is my opinion, you might disagree and I respect your opinion.

Stay well and stay tuned.
* * *
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s radio on 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and contributes News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com
The BEST Bay Area sports photos from
Michael Zagaris, Ed Jay, Rich Yee, Darren Yamashita,
Ron Sellers, Alex Ho, Rob Edwards, Kenneth Wong,
Timothy Reynolds and Larry Rosa 
Where The Bay Comes To Play!
"It's an ocean planet. As the oceans go, so goes the planet."
-- Bill Carvalho, Wild Planet founder and president

Wild Planet Foods has been honored with TWO awards by Whole Foods Market -- Global Supplier of the Year AND Environmental Stewardship! The annual awards recognize suppliers who embody Whole Foods Market's mission and values through a proven commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, organic integrity, innovation, and partnership.

More Awards and Counting!
Prevention  -- 100 Cleanest Packaged Food Awards
Men's Health -- 125 Best Foods for Men
Prevention -- Eat Clean Best Packaged Foods
Every Day with Rachael Ray -- Brand New Buy
Better Homes and Gardens -- Catch of the Day
Clean Eating -- Clean Choice Awards
Natural Health -- 3rd Annual Good Food Awards
Runner's World -- Good Catch

For more information, visit www.wildplanetfoods.com
San Jose Earthquakes 3 (0)
Sporting Kansas City 3 (3)
Chris Wondolowski celebrates his goal in the 97th minute to force overtime

Quakes eliminated after forcing No. 1 seed
to penalty kicks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The San Jose Earthquakes were defeated by the No. 1
seed Sporting Kansas City on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw in Round One of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Quakes have been eliminated from playoff contention with the defeat.

Sporting Kansas City took an early lead in the fourth minute. Johnny Russell sent an in-swinging corner kick into the box and Roger Espinoza's glancing header found the back of the net.

San Jose responded with an equalizer in the 22nd minute. Cristian Espinoza received a long ball on the right wing and played a low cross in front of goal. Carlos Fierro redirected the ball goalward, deflecting off a defender and bouncing in.

The Quakes scored a second goal 12 minutes later. Fierro played a through ball to Espinoza, who carried it down the flank and into the box. Espinoza's cut-back pass found Shea Salinas unmarked near the penalty spot and his low shot caromed off a defender and around goalkeeper Tim Melia.

Sporting pulled even less than two minutes into the second half on another corner kick, scored by Ilie Sanchez.

SKC believed they had secured the victory when Gianluca Busio scored in the 91st minute, but 37-year-old Chris Wondolowski scored the equalizer for San Jose seven minutes into stoppage time to force overtime. Espinoza crossed the ball into the box and Wondolowski's close-range header flew past Melia to level the score. Wondolowski's goal, scored with 96:49 on the clock, was the third-latest non-overtime goal in MLS playoff history and the second-latest lead-changing goal.

After a scoreless overtime, Sporting Kansas City prevailed 3-0 on penalty kicks.



Oakland Roots SC Town Hall
At Oakland Roots S.C. we truly believe that this club belongs to The Town
and we want to give you the opportunity to make your voice heard. 
 
Due to increased restrictions in Alameda County, we will be holding our inaugural Roots Town Hall digitally on Thursday, December 10, and all Roots fans are invited to attend. This first-of-its-kind event is your chance to hear from and ask questions directly to Roots’ leaders and influencers.
 
This will be a virtual event and you must RSVP to receive the link to access online.

Hosted By:
  • Mike Geddes, Oakland Roots Chief Purpose Officer
  • Karen Gonzalez, Oakland Roots Experiential Marketing Manager

The Roots’ leadership and influencer panel will include:
  • Steven Aldrich, Roots’ Chair
  • Dania Cabello, Oakland-born artist, athlete, entrepreneur, educator and Oakland Roots Community Advisory Board Member
  • Nana Attakora, Former Roots’ Team Captain and new Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development 

When: Thursday, December 10 from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
 
Where: Online only, you must RSVP to receive link
 
Why: So we can learn how to serve our Community better

For questions please contact info@rootssc.com or call (510) 488-1144.
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White (June 8, 1917 – April 15, 2002) was an American lawyer and professional football player who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1962 to 1993. Born and raised in Colorado, he played college football, basketball, and baseball for the University of Colorado, finishing as the runner up for the Heisman Trophy in 1937. He was selected in the first round of the 1938 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and led the National Football League in rushing yards in his rookie season. ~ https://bit.ly/2INeALX for a Wikipedia quick history. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers first took to the field as the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 20, 1933, losing 23–2 to the New York Giants. Through the 1930s, the Pirates never finished higher than second place in their division, or with a record better than .500 (1936). Pittsburgh did make history in 1938 by signing Byron White, a future Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to what was at the time the biggest contract in NFL history, but he played only one year with the Pirates before signing with the Detroit Lions. Prior to the 1940 season,
the Pirates renamed themselves the Steelers
Raiders Fan Profiles
In the last seasons of the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Ultimate Sports Guide photographer Ed Jay collected images and stories of some of the Raiders most passionate and beloved fans. To view and read their stories, click on this link and revisit your all-time favorites. Above, Azel Wendell Grasty, Sr.
In the House!
The 2019 Fall/Winter edition of the Ultimate Sports Guide, a San Francisco Bay Area sports reference publication published twice a year for avid Bay Area and Northern California sports fans, is in the house. The Ultimate Sports Guide is distributed free of charge or may be ordered via subscription. Each seasonal edition provides professional and collegiate team coverage through commentary, photo essays and player profiles. To order, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net or send $5 to: Ultimate Sports Guide,
P.O. Box 4515, Berkeley, CA 94704. Write theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
or call (510) 845-2035. Cover photo: Rich Yee. 
Back Issues
not to be missed!
Offering superb photography and
entertaining chronicles


Click here for 2019 editions.

Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, November 23 through
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Games for most major and minor league sports, including collegiate and high school teams,
have been cancelled.

Monday, November 23

Tuesday, November 24

Wednesday, November 25
Cal (MBB) vs. TBD, 4 p.m.
Stanford (MBB) vs. Utah Valley, 2 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans (MBB) vs. Simpson University, 2 p.m.
USF Dons (MBB) vs. Towson
Saint Mary's Gaels (MBB) @ Memphis, 1:30 p.m.
Cal (WBB) vs. San Jose State, 4 p.m.
Stanford (WBB) vs. Cal Poly, 11 a.m.
USF Dons (WBB ) @ UC Davis, 3 p.m.
Saint Mary's Gaels (WBB) vs. VCU, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 26
Cal (MBB) vs. Northwest, 3 p.m.
USF Dons (MBB) vs. Stephen F. Austin
Saint Mary's Gaels (MBB) @ Northern Iowa or West Virginia, TBD
Friday, November 27
Cal Bears vs. Stanford Cardinal, 1:30 p.m., FOX
USF Dons (MBB) vs. Army Black Knights
Saint Mary's Gaels (MBB) @ TBD, TBD
USF Dons (WBB) @ Nevada Wolf Pack, 2 p.m.
Saint Mary's Gaels (WBB) vs. Stephen F. Austin, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 28
San Jose State Spartans @ Boise State Mustangs, 4 p.m., FS1 or FS2
Sunday, November 29
San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams, 1:05 p.m., FOX
USF (MBB) vs. Rhode Island, ESPN 2
Stanford (WBB) vs. Pacific, 4 p.m.
Enjoy the
 Ultimate Sports Guide website!

Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant Ultimate Sports Guide website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
Need a website designed or tuned up?
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The vast majority of student-athletes dreaming of athletic stardom won't make it to the pros. Yet, the discipline and skills they've developed while balancing a sport and academics make them ideally suited for satisfying careers elsewhere. In 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won't Go Pro, the authors draw on personal experience, interviews, expert opinion, and industry data to provide a game plan for student-athletes through key transitions at each stage of their careers, from high school through college and beyond. Modeled on Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this book provides a much-needed strategy for achieving career success. Readable and concise, it will be a valuable tool for students, parents, and sports administrators. To order, click here.
Serean Kimmel, Associate
5980 Stoneridge Drive, Ste. 122
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723

CalBRE License #:01770629

Agent  510.512.2145
Office  925.847.8900

Many people -- maybe even you -- have been getting out on their bikes more during Shelter-in-Place. "Check for Bikes" clings and bumper stickers are great ways to keep bicyclists safer out there on the road by promoting awareness by drivers to share the road. Keep safe out there and keep your neighbors safe by using or passing along vinyl clings for inside a car window or windshield and
4" circular bumper stickers. We have Youth and Spanish versions, too!
with questions or to order.
Contact Information:
Ultimate Sports Guide
P.O. Box 4515
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-845-2035
The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst, now retired. Mr. Karst continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.